Accounting Scholarships

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$2,000–$3,000
3 Award Winners

Pennsylvania Society of Tax & Accounting Professionals’ Scholarship

The PSTAP awards the Robert T. Zalenski Memorial Scholarship, ranging from $2,000 to $3,000, to three undergraduate students majoring in accounting at an accredited Pennsylvania college or university.

Eligible Grades
Undergraduate
Application Open Date
August 31, 2023
Application Deadline
October 31, 2023
Open
$2,000–$3,000
3 Award Winners
Open
$5,000
1 Award Winner

Fifth Year Accounting Student Scholarship Program

The program, administered by the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy, provides up to $5,000 to students planning to take the CPA examination and be CPA certified in Texas.

Eligible Grades
Undergraduate – Graduate
Application Open Date
August 15, 2023
Application Deadline
December 15, 2023
Open
$5,000
1 Award Winner
Open
$5,000–$15,000
3 Award Winners

Jeffery L. Esser Career Development Scholarship

The Jeffrey L. Esser Career Development Scholarship offers one to three awards and is for individuals seeking to advance their public finance careers through a degree on a part-time enrollment.

Eligible Grades
All
Application Open Date
September 1, 2023
Application Deadline
December 29, 2023
Open
$5,000–$15,000
3 Award Winners
Open
$10,000
1 Award Winner

Minorities In Government Finance Scholarship

GOFA's Minorities in Government Finance Scholarship awards a $10,000- scholarship to a minority graduate or upper-level undergraduate student interested in pursuing a career in local or state government finance.

Eligible Grades
All
Application Open Date
September 1, 2023
Application Deadline
December 29, 2023
Open
$10,000
1 Award Winner
Opening in 4 Days
$1,500
28 Award Winners

NJCPA Scholarship Fund – High School Seniors

The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) offers the NJCPA Scholarship Fund Program to 28 high school seniors in New Jersey each, pursuing an undergraduate degree in accounting.

Eligible Grades
High School Senior
Application Open Date
October 1, 2023
Application Deadline
December 10, 2023
Opening in 4 Days
$1,500
28 Award Winners
Opening in 2 Days
$10,000
4 Award Winners

Government Finance Professional Development Scholarship

Government Finance Professional Development Scholarship offers $10,000 each to four graduate students in the U.S. or Canada to enroll in a degree focused on local and state government finance.

Eligible Grades
All
Application Open Date
September 29, 2023
Application Deadline
December 29, 2023
Opening in 2 Days
$10,000
4 Award Winners
Opening in 3 Days
$10,000
2 Award Winners

Frank L. Greathouse Government Accounting Scholarship

The Frank L. Greathouse Government Accounting Scholarship awards two undergraduate or graduate students, preparing for a career in state and local government finance, $10,000 each.

Eligible Grades
All
Application Open Date
September 30, 2023
Application Deadline
December 30, 2023
Opening in 3 Days
$10,000
2 Award Winners
Opening in 24 Days
$8,000
1 Award Winner

UBS/PaineWebber Scholarship

Scholarships of $8,000 are awarded to college sophomores and juniors who major in business at UNCF colleges by the UBS/Painwebber Scholarship Program.

Eligible Grades
College Sophomore – College Junior
Application Open Date
October 21, 2023
Application Deadline
April 27, 2024
Opening in 24 Days
$8,000
1 Award Winner
Closed
$1,000–$10,000
25 Award Winners

Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship

The Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship offers a total of $56,000 to 25 undergraduate students.

Eligible Grades
College Sophomore – Postgraduate
Application Open Date
September 15, 2022
Application Deadline
February 6, 2023
Closed
$1,000–$10,000
25 Award Winners
Closed
$3,000
1 Award Winner

Byron Bird Graduate Scholarship

The Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants (KSCPA) offers the Byron Bird Graduate Scholarship to one accounting graduate student in Kansas to complete their postgraduate studies.

Eligible Grades
Graduate – Postgraduate
Application Open Date
November 1, 2022
Application Deadline
February 10, 2023
Closed
$3,000
1 Award Winner
Closed
$2,500
1 Award Winner

John J. Killian Scholarship

The Kansas Society of CPAs Educational Foundation offers the John J. Killian Scholarship to full-time college junior students majoring in accounting enrolled at independent Kansas colleges or universities.

Eligible Grades
College Junior
Application Open Date
November 1, 2022
Application Deadline
February 10, 2023
Closed
$2,500
1 Award Winner
Closed
$2,500
1 Award Winner

Mary Ellen Kirkpatrick Leadership Scholarship

KSCPA offers the Mary Ellen Kirkpatrick Leadership Scholarship to one college junior with accounting majors in Kansas to complete their undergraduate degree program. Applicants must be Kansas residents.

Eligible Grades
College Junior
Application Open Date
November 1, 2022
Application Deadline
February 10, 2023
Closed
$2,500
1 Award Winner
Closed
$10,000
10 Award Winners

AICPA Minority Accounting Scholarship

A $10,000- AICPA Minority Scholarship is offered to outstanding full-time students in order to promote their decision to major in accounting and eventual admittance into the field.

Eligible Grades
Undergraduate – Postgraduate
Application Open Date
December 1, 2022
Application Deadline
March 1, 2023
Closed
$10,000
10 Award Winners
Closed
$3,000–$10,000
139 Award Winners

AICPA Scholarships

AICPA offers scholarships to 139 U.S. residents studying accountancy or related fields every year.

Eligible Grades
Undergraduate – Postgraduate
Application Open Date
December 1, 2022
Application Deadline
March 1, 2023
Closed
$3,000–$10,000
139 Award Winners
Closed
$2,500
1 Award Winner

George White Memorial Scholarship

The Iowa Automobile Dealers Foundation for Education offers the George White Memorial Scholarship to qualified students in Iowa to advance their education and pursue careers in the automotive industry.

Eligible Grades
High School Senior – Graduate
Application Open Date
December 1, 2022
Application Deadline
March 1, 2023
Closed
$2,500
1 Award Winner
Closed
$2,500
1 Award Winner

Michael T. Clemons Scholarship

The Iowa Automobile Dealers Foundation for Education offers the Michael T. Clemons Scholarship to one qualified student in Iowa to advance their education and pursue careers in the automotive industry.

Eligible Grades
High School Senior – Graduate
Application Open Date
December 1, 2022
Application Deadline
March 1, 2023
Closed
$2,500
1 Award Winner
Closed
$2,000
1 Award Winner

Advocates for African Americans Carolinas Scholarship

The scholarship awards $2,000 to a graduating high school student to pursue undergraduate study in engineering, computer science, accounting, finance, or business administration at universities in North or South Carolina.

Eligible Grades
High School Senior
Application Open Date
December 3, 2022
Application Deadline
March 4, 2023
Closed
$2,000
1 Award Winner
Closed
$7,333–$14,666
100 Award Winners

MetLife Foundation Scholarship

The MetLife Foundation partners with UNCF to offer scholarships to African American students enrolled at accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for their junior year.

Eligible Grades
College Junior
Application Open Date
May 31, 2022
Application Deadline
March 10, 2023
Closed
$7,333–$14,666
100 Award Winners
Closed
$6,000
2 Award Winners

Hearld and Marge Ambler Scholarship

The Community Foundation of the Ozarks offers the Hearld and Marge Ambler Scholarship of $6,000 to two college students each, pursuing business-related degree programs. Preference is given to accounting majors.

Eligible Grades
Undergraduate
Application Open Date
February 1, 2023
Application Deadline
March 13, 2023
Closed
$6,000
2 Award Winners
Closed
$2,500–$20,000
1 Award Winner

AGC Scholarship

The Associated General Contractors of Alaska provides an opportunity to students who are either Alaska residents or U.S. citizens to win a scholarship of up to $20,000.

Eligible Grades
All
Application Open Date
July 1, 2022
Application Deadline
March 31, 2023
Closed
$2,500–$20,000
1 Award Winner
Closed
$20,000
1 Award Winner

CME Group Foundation Scholars Program

$20,000 is awarded to an outstanding student attending a partner institution by the CME Group Foundation.

Eligible Grades
College Sophomore – Postgraduate
Application Open Date
February 1, 2023
Application Deadline
April 4, 2023
Closed
$20,000
1 Award Winner
Closed
$5,000
30 Award Winners

CREW Network Scholarship

A real estate network focused on women is choosing 30 undergraduate or postgraduate students to win a scholarship for professional and academic development.

Eligible Grades
College Junior – Postgraduate
Application Open Date
January 3, 2023
Application Deadline
April 15, 2023
Closed
$5,000
30 Award Winners
Closed
$11,000–$13,000
1 Award Winner

Annabel Lambeth Jones Brevard College Merit Scholarship Fund

The Annabel Lambeth Jones Brevard College Merit Scholarship, ranging from $11,000 to $13,000, is available to a high school senior who is an incoming freshman at Brevard College.

Eligible Grades
High School Senior – College Freshman
Application Open Date
March 1, 2023
Application Deadline
April 18, 2023
Closed
$11,000–$13,000
1 Award Winner
Closed
$1,550
43 Award Winners

KyCPA College Scholarships

The KyCPA College Scholarship offers 43 $1,550 scholarships to college students currently enrolled in accounting.

Eligible Grades
College Freshman – College Senior
Application Open Date
January 15, 2023
Application Deadline
April 30, 2023
Closed
$1,550
43 Award Winners
Closed
$5,000
9 Award Winners

Delaware Career Based Scholarship

The Delaware Department of Education offers $5,000 to at least nine Delaware residents pursuing an undergraduate degree for a career in a high-need field.

Eligible Grades
College Freshman – Undergraduate
Application Open Date
January 2, 2023
Application Deadline
May 15, 2023
Closed
$5,000
9 Award Winners

About accounting scholarships

Accounting is a major that falls under the broad category of business degrees. Accounting is more focused on the financial recording of a specific company. It's one of the most popular business majors and is a stable career option. We've gathered some great scholarships to help you achieve your goal of becoming an accountant. Scholarships are a great source of financial aid to help cover the high costs of college. We've also put together some information discussing the costs of a degree, and your future career options, as well as highlighting accounting scholarships for high school seniors and graduate students. We hope that this will help you on your journey to becoming an accountant and pursuing your dreams.

Average cost of an accounting degree 2023

The cost of tuition varies between states and institutions. Private institutions will have the highest tuition fees, while state colleges will be the more affordable option. More expensive doesn't always mean better – you can receive a quality education without attending the top-ranking schools. The average cost of tuition for an accounting degree ranges from $9,761 for in-state to $28,212 for out-of-state.

So now that we've established that it can be pretty expensive to get a degree, here are some ways you could lessen the financial burden. Student loans are one of the most popular ways for people to pay for college. And while they are a useful and attractive solution, they can be debilitating in the long term. Loans can come in the form of private student loans, i.e. from companies, banks, or other institutions, and feral loans, which are government-sponsored. It can take a long time to repay your student loans, so ensure you're well-educated before you sign up for any. We have plenty of guides and comparisons to help you on our Student Loans page.

An alternative to only using loans is to make use of federal student aid and scholarships. Scholarships especially are helpful because you don't need to repay them like you would a student loan. A strategy we recommend is to apply for multiple scholarships so that you can cover more of your costs – full-ride scholarships are very competitive and not as common as smaller scholarships. There are several accounting scholarships available that can help cover your tuition costs.

Types of accounting scholarships

Scholarships come in a number of forms, some are awarded based on academic achievement, while others are based on competitions. The very based on sponsors too – from community organizations to specific businesses, for example, a finance company may offer a scholarship to business students. There are also scholarships aimed at improving diversity or assisting minority communities. Need-based scholarships are another popular type of scholarship. They are designed to assist students from low-income homes to afford college. With such a variety of scholarships available to accounting students, there are sure to be many that suit you.

Careers to pursue with an accounting major

As mentioned earlier, accounting falls under business degrees, so there are several career paths that you can follow once you graduate. Here are a few examples of the more popular career choices for accountants.

  • Public accounting: These accountants operate in an advisory capacity to clients – assisting them with auditing, taxation, and similar services.
  • Corporate accounting: They are responsible for managing the financial transactions and reporting within companies.
  • Government and nonprofit accounting: This is pretty self-explanatory, but they handle the finances for public sector organizations.
  • Forensic accounting: Forensic accountants are more involved when something has gone wrong and will investigate financial irregularities and fraud.
If you're not totally set on accounting, head to our Business Scholarships page to see the other career options in this field.

Accounting scholarships for high school seniors 2023

Most of your senior year is spent preparing for your future – whether that be college or something different. If you're going to apply for scholarships you need to start thinking about early on. This will give you time to prepare for your applications. It also gives you an opportunity to improve and work towards maintaining strong grades, get involved in extracurricular activities, and prepare all the documents you will need for your applications. Being prepared is key to your success.

Here are a few accounting scholarships specifically aimed at high school seniors:
Illinois CPA Society Freshman Scholarships
NJCPA Scholarship Fund - High School Seniors
Michael T. Clemons Scholarship
George White Memorial Scholarship

Accounting scholarships for graduate students

You will need more than a bachelor's in accounting to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). To become a practicing accountant you will also need to earn your master's degree. It usually takes six years to do this – four years for your bachelor's and two for your master's. There are some five-year accounting programs that combine your bachelor's and master's. You will also need to earn your CPA license to be a certified CPA.

Having your master's degree is going to help you in your career. Many, if not most, companies prefer to employ accountants with master's degrees as they have more knowledge and experience. You will also be able to earn a much higher salary because of this.

Here are a few graduate scholarships for accounting students.
Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship
CME Group Foundation Scholars Program
CREW Network Scholarship
NYSSCPA Excellence in Accounting Scholarship
AICPA Scholarships
Byron Bird Graduate Scholarship
Stanley R. Arnold Scholarship
AICPA Fellowships for Minority Doctoral Students

Tips for applying for accounting scholarships

1. Tailor your application: Don't just submit the same answers and essays for all your applications. Customize the essays and recommendations for each scholarship.

2. Demonstrate your passion: These organizations get hundreds of applications every cycle, so make sure you're putting your best foot forward. Express genuine interest in accounting as a field of study and future career.

3. Proofread carefully: Submit error-free application materials to make a professional impression. Take the time to review your application, and have someone else read it too, before you submit.

4. Apply to numerous scholarships: Cast a wide net and apply for multiple scholarships to increase your chances of success. Winning several scholarships will help cover more of your costs as earning a full-ride scholarship is quite a challenge.

Frequently asked questions

Are there any scholarships for U.S. CPAs?

There are several scholarships available to help students become CPAs and cover the costs of earning their CPA license. For example, the AICPA Scholarships.

How do I become a top accounting student?

The top tip is just to be a good student – revise your lecture content daily, ask questions when you don’t understand, and work through all the problems in your textbooks. Take time to get work experience during your studies (if you are able), network with people in the field, work out your career path and know which accounting career you’re working towards.

Can you make 100k in accounting?

Yes, you can but you probably won’t right after graduating. While accountants do earn a pretty good salary, you will need more years working and gaining experience before you reach a position that pays $100k – how fast this happens depends on the career stream you choose, how big the company or companies you work for are, the state you are employed in, and the current financial market.

What is the highest-paid accounting job?

One of the highest-paying accounting positions is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who can earn up to $300k. Other high-paying careers include auditors, financial analysts, and chief accounting officers.

How hard is the CPA exam?

Unfortunately, the answer is quite difficult. The CPA exam has a fairly low pass rate — between 45% and 50%. There are plenty of resources available to prospective CPAs to help them prepare for the exam.